Versatile actor Edward Norton has tended to shy away from big budget Hollywood fare in recent years. After finding much mainstream success in late 1990s films such as Primal Fear, American History X, and Fight Club, his career path of stardom seemed a foregone conclusion. But since then his choice of roles has been rather interesting and varied, starring in bombs like Death to Smoochy, or a small role in a big film like Kingdom of Heaven, and several lead roles in a film that few people saw such as Down in the Valley.

With The Illusionist Norton is once again going with the small film route. He stars as a magician in early 1900s Vienna named Eisenheim who uses his wondrous abilities to attract the attention of a woman far above his own social status. Jessica Biel is Sophie, the woman he is drawn to. Sparks fly when she gets engaged to the Crown Prince (Rufus Sewell), so Eisenheim uses his magic to try to win her back, threatening the tranquility of the royal world. Acclaimed character actor Paul Giamatti also has a key role, as a man that the prince hires to stop the illusions, further raising the star power.

Neil Burger, who wrote the adaptation of Steven Millhauser’s short story “Eisenheim the Illusionist,” also directs the film. It is his second feature, after 2002’s seldom-seen Interview with the Assassin. (Michael Bentley/BOP)